Danny Boyle meets displaced Slumdog children

Danny Boyle, director of Slumdog Millionaire met the film's two child stars Rubina and Azhar on Wednesday, who lost their homes in the anti-encroachment drive launched by the civic authorities.

"We have been trying to find legal accommodation for these two children for a long time. Hopefully, our efforts would bear fruit soon," Boyle, told reporters after meeting the two kids at Tata Institute of Social Science.

He was accompanied by movie's producer Christian Colson.

He said unless these children shift from illegal shanties to rented or legal ownership homes, they would continue to be vulnerable.

Boyle expressed happiness at the way their education is going on saying that both children are bright students.

He said the makers of the film have been making monthly contributions to the 'Jai Ho Trust' and the fund would be handed over to the children after they attain the age of 18 or when the Trust feels right to give them the money.

Rubina Ali and Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, who live in the illegal shanties along the Bandra railway line close to the Mahim creek, lost their homes this month as the civic authorities demolished illegal slums as a part of their monsoon cleanliness drive.

Rubina's father Rafiq Qureshi walked out of the meeting in a huff and complained that Boyle had not done enough for the children.

"I have been hearing about the 'Jai Ho trust' providing us homes for the last few months. Nothing has happened. The children are on the road," Rafiq said.

The Oscar winning director said that he had come to Mumbai to meet his friends and colleagues.

To a question about his future movie plans, Boyle said, he wants to make two more films set in the city.

"I have met Anurag Kashyap and Shekhar Kapur in the last two days," he said but declined to comment if the two films he plans to make are with these two directors.